Steam chest construction



June 17, 1941. R. F. WOLFF STEAM CHEST CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 27, 1939 Patented June 17, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAM CHEST CONSTRUCTION Robert F. Wolff, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application February 27, 1939, Serial No. 258,588

2 Claims.

This invention relates to steam chests or conduits which are formed of a metal, as aluminum alloy, which are readily corroded by steam or by vaporized impurities in the water from which the steam is generated, and has for its object a steam chest or. conduit construction by which the corroding effect is eliminated or greatly reduced. In some localities, the water contains impurities which vaporize when the water is converted into steam and which corrode or have a deleterious or corrosive effect on walls of the steam chest.

The invention has for its general'object an inexpensive construction by which the corroding is avoided.

I have here shown the invention as embodied in the steam chest of aluminum alloy of a garment and laundry pressing machine, that is, the head of such a machine. The head usually has a movement toward and from a lower pressing element or buck, not shown.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a plan view, partly broken away, of a steam chest embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of one of the baflle devices.

The invention comprises a baffle device of a non-corrosive metal extending into the chamber of the steam chest and having a portion, as a hub, embedded in a wall, as an edge wall of the steam chest, the hub being hollow and serving to receive a steam inlet or outlet pipe. I have here shown both the inlet and outlet as provided with a baffle device but only one of these, and preferably the inlet may be provided with such device. The hub terminates short of the outer surface of the wall of the chest and the wall is provided with a bore alined with the bore of the hub forming a port in which the inlet or outlet is fitted.

I designates the steam chest formed of aluminum alloy, this having an internal chamber 2 of any suitable form.

3 and 4 designate inlet and outlet baffling devices. As each is of the same general construction and assembled in the chest in the same way, a description of one will be suflicient. The

baffling device 3 is in the form of a box open at 5 at its ends and having a laterally extending hub (i embedded in the adjacent edge wall of the chest and terminating, as at 1, short of the outer surface of the wall of a chest so that there is a mass of metal at 8 between the outer end of the hub 6 and the outer edge surface of the chest I. This mass is formed with a passage or bore 9 alined with the bore ll! of the hub 6. The bores are threaded for receiving the threaded end of an inlet or outlet steam pipe II or l2 and constitute the inlet and outlet ports of the steam chest.

In forming the steam chest with the baffling devices therein, the baffling device is arranged in the mold cavity and the aluminum alloy cast into the mold around the baflie 3 or 4, especially around the hub 6 thereof.

The machining operations for boring and threading the passages 9 and I0 are then performed.

In operation, the steam enters the pipe II and into the boxlike baffle 3, whence it is directed, as desired, through the steam chest to the outlet, where it impinges the baffling devices 4. By these baffling devices, corrosion of the aluminum alloy is practically eliminated. Owing to the termination of the hub short of the outer face of the chest I, the joint between the pipe II or I2 and the steam chest and baffle is tight and leakproof.

What I claim is:

1. A steam chest formed of aluminum and having inlet and outlet ports for steam, and a baffle device in at least one of said ports, said device being of a non-corrosive metal and located in the interior of the steam chest, and having a hollow hub embedded in the adjacent wall of the chest, for coupling a steam pipe thereto, the hub terminating short of the outer face of the steam chest, and the steam chest having a bore alined with the bore of the hub.

2. A steam chest formed of aluminum and having an inlet and outlet for steam, and. a baifie device of a non-corrosive metal in the interior of the steam chest and having a hub embedded in the adjacent wall of the chest for coupling a steam pipe thereto, the hub terminating short of the outer face of the steam chest, and the steam chest having a bore alined with the bore of the hub, said baffle device being in the form of a box open at its ends with said hub of the baffle extending laterally from one side of the boxlike formation.

ROBERT F. WOLFE. 

